Egg-handler.



H. R. MORRIS.

EGG HANDLER.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 2o, 1910.

Patented Dec.6,1910.

95' Izzi/M /7/7 Inventor Attorney H. R. MORRIS.

BGG HANDLER.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. zo, 1910.

978,049. Patented Dec. 6,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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vento 7A/by.

Attorneys HARRISON R. MORRIS, OF MAPLETON, KANSAS.

EGG-HANDLER.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 6, 1910.

Application tiled September 20, 1910. Serial No. 582,902.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRISON R. MORRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mapleton, in the county of Bourbon and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Egg-Handler, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide, in a simple, merchantable, and inexpensive form, a device which may be employed for lifting a cellular egg rack, of the common and well known type, together with the contents of the rack, out of the receptacle in which the rack is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be i employed to lift all of the eggs out of a which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combina tion and arrangement of parts and 1n the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it bein 'understood that changes in the precise embo iment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed and Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure l shows the in-' vention in section, parts being in elevation; Fig. 2 is a section on the line A-B of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a top plan, parts being removed;

' Fig. 4 is a sectional detail designed to show,

articularly, the interlocking elements whereythe ejector frame is upheld; and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail supplementing Fig. 4, the cutting plane being taken at right angles T to the cutting plane of Fig. 4.

The invention includes, as a primary and fundamental element, a frame, denoted 1n Fig. 1 by the numeral 1. This frame 1 includes angle members 2, connected at their ends by cross bars 8. The cross bars 3 are connected, between the angle members 2, by

' `rods 4, these rods 4 constituting bearings for `the intermediate portions of primary shafts 5 and secondary shafts 6 and 48, there being any desired number of these shafts. The ends of the shafts 5 and 6 extend upon the angle members 2, staple bearings 7, or the like, being introduced into the angle members 2, to receive the ends of the shafts 5 and 6 for rotation. Preferably, the shafts 5 and 6 are composed of sections 8, the adjacent ends of which are secured together at 9, and rectangularly disposed, to form arms 10 and 17, in the shafts 5. This construction is most clearly seen in Fig. 2, and is there applied speciiically to one of the primary shafts 5. This construction applies with equal propriety to the secondary shafts 6 and 48, the arms of these secondary shafts 6 and 48 being denoted by numerals 11, -15 and 20, the numeral 11 denotes the arms generally, and the numerals 15 and 20, like the numeral 17, denoting certain arms which have the specific functions to be mentioned hereinafter. The up'per ends of the rods 10 and 17 are pivotally connected to a rod 12. The u per ends of the arms 11, 15 and 20 are pivotRly connected to a rod 14. By referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the arms 20 and 10, which, in the present case, may be taken as typical, are each bifurcated at their upper ends to receive their respective rods 14 and 12, the rod 12 being extended between the bifurcations of the arm 20, and being slidable therein. The arms 11 are longer than the arms 10, and the construction above described will be well understood by comparison of Figs. 1 and 2.

One of the arms which are secured to the rod 14, this particular arm being specifically denoted by the numeral 15, is provided with an extension 16, rectangularly disposed, and positioned above the arms 11 (see Fig. l). One of the arms which are secured to the rod 1Q, this arm being denoted specifically by the numeral 17, is provided with an extension 18, likewise overhanging the arms 10 and 11, and rectangularly disposed. These extensions 16 and 18 act as levers in the operation of the structure, their adjacent ends overlapping, as denoted by the numeral 19. One of the arms which are connected to the rod 14, denoted specifically by the numeral 20, is provided with a transverse pin 21, upon which the adjacent ends of the extensions 16 and' 18 are adapted to rest. To the ends of the extensions 16 and 18, links 2Q are pivotally secured, these links converging, as they extend upwardly. The

upper ends of the links 22 are pivoted to a slidably mounted element, in the present instance shown in the form of a plunger rod 23, provided with a handle 24. This plunger rod 23 is slidable in a plate 25, sustained by ties 26, to a frame 27, composed o-f bailshaped members 29 carrying a handle 28, located above the handle 24 and in a common plane therewith. The corner posts 30 of the bail-shaped members 29 are connected with the angle members 2 adjacent the corners of the frame 1 (see Fig. 3). Each of the primary shafts 5 is provided with a plurality of spring fingers 31, each of the secondary shafts 6 being provided with a plurality of spring fingers 32. These fingers, in both shafts, are arranged in pairs, as denoted by the numeral 33 in Fig, 2. The ends of the spring fingers 31 and 32, are curved,ror otherwise disposed, in order to form heads 34. The spring fingers 31 and 32 are normally held in downwardly converging relation, as shown at 35, by a mechanism which will be described hereinafter.

The intermediate portion of a U-shaped spring 36 is engaged in one end of the bar 14. This spring 36 is given a turn or two around one of the cross bars 3, and is terminally hooked over the bearing rods 4, as denoted by the numeral 37. A U-shaped spring 38 is engaged in its intermediate portion in the bar 12, this spring 38 being passed about the other cross bar 3, and

`hooked over the bearing spring rods 4, as

denoted by the numeral 39. The spring 36 tends to pull the bar 14 in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1, while the spring 38 tends to pull the bar 12 in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 1. Spring fingers 40 depend from the frame 1, adjacent the four corners thereof, these spring fingers 40, as seen in Fig. 3, being preferably extended over the cross bars 3 and terminally connected with those shafts 5 and 6 which are disposed adjacent the ends of the device. These spring fingers as will be explained hereinafter, constitute a means for lifting the egg rack out of the case, at the saine time that the eggs are removed therefrom.

Upright casings 41 are connected with the corner posts 30. In these casings 41 rods 42 reciprocate vertically. The lower ends of the rods 42 are connected by bars 43,

from these bars 43, fianges 44 project inwardly., The rods 42, the bars 43, and the fianges 44 constitute what, for convenience, will be denominated hereinafter the eject-or frame. Retractile springs 45 are located in the casings 41, these springs 45 being coninected at their upper ends with the rods 42,

and at their lower ends connected with the casings 41. It will be seen that when the ejector frames are slid upwardly, the springs 45 will be put under tension, the springs 45 Lacting normally to force the ejector frames downwardly. There are two of these ejector frames, as Fig. 2 will show, the ejector frames being slidable at the sides of the frame or supporting member 1.

The lower ends of the spring fingers 46 are mounted in the bars 43. These spring fingers 46 extend through, and are slidable in, the angle members 2 of the frame 1. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the spring fingers 46 terminate at their upper ends in hooks 47. One of the secondary shafts, denoted specifically by the numeral 48, is provided with an upstanding finger 49, located in the vicinity of the finger 46. This finger 49 is provided with a laterally projecting, recessed head 50, disposed at right angles to the hook 47.

An auxiliary bail 51 is provided, disposed at right angles to the handle 28 and engaging the same frictionally, the lower extremities of the auxiliary bail 51 being mounted, as denoted by the numeral 52 in Fig. 2, in the angle members 2 of the frame or supporting member v1.

The operation of the device is as follows: It is to be understood that the interlocking elements represented by the spring fingers 46 and 49, are normally in engagement, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the flanges 44 of the ejector frame are normally maintained nplifted, and `in close relation to the frame 1. rI he handle 28 is grasped, and the device is lowered until the spring fingers 31 and 32 enter the cells 53 of the egg rack 54, the egg rack being of common and well known construction, and being shown in Fig. 4. While the spring fingers 32 ,and 31 are being lowered into the cells of the egg rack, the spring fingers 40 will engage the egg rack, these fingers 40 constituting holders for the egg rack. If the handle 24 be grasped, together with the handle 28, pulling the plunger rod 23 upwardly, the links 22 will tilt the levers 16 and 18, moving the rods V12 and 14 against the action of the springs 38 and 36 respectively, the rods 12 tilting the arms 10, and the'rods 14 tilting the arms 11, these arms actuating their respective shafts 5 and 6,

causing them to rotate, and securing a separation of the spring ngers 31 and 32, so

that the eggs which are in the cells 53, may Y elements represented by the spring fingers Y 46 and 49 (see Fig. 4), are resilient, these`V fingers will yield, during the rocking of the shafts 5 and 6, the engagement between thel hooks 47 and the proj ect-ions 50 being maintained. Thus, the fingers 31 and 32 may be opened to receive the eggs, without causing the ejector frame to descend. The eggs and the egg rack in which they are contained may now be placed .in another' crate, de-

posited in a Candler, or otherwise disposed of. By swinging the auxiliary bail 51 out i of engagement with the handle 28, the entire i such instance the spring lingers 31 and 32 are disposed 1n the cells 53 of the egg rack 54 as hereinbefore described. The flanges r 44 of the ejector frame are then brought into engagement with the upper edges of the egg rack 54. Slight pressure is then brought to bear upon the handle 28, thrusting the flanges 44 of the ejector frames against the upper edge of the egg rack 54, and causing the fingers 46 of the ejector frame to slide in the angle members 2 of the supporting 4 frame 1, until the hooks 47 of the fingers 46 are lifted suliiciently so that they will be above, and clear of, the projections 50 of the lingers 49 which are mounted upon the shaft- 48. If the shafts are now rotated, slightly, by elevating the handle 24 a trifle, it will be seen that the projections 50 will move in the direction of the arrow D in Fig. 4, withdrawing the said projections 50 from the hooks 47. If the pressure upon the handle 28 be now released, the handle 24 being likewise released, so that the fingers 3l and 32 may grip the eggs, the ejector frames will move downwardly, under the action of the springs 45, the flanges 44 engaging the upper edges of the egg rack 54, and holding the same in place within the crate, the entire contents of the egg rack 54 being removed.

vIn order to position the ejector frame in close relation to the supporting frame 1, as shown in Fig. 4, it is necessary merely to press down upon the handle 28, the flanges 44 of the ejector frames being in contact with the upper edges of an egg rack, or the like. The fingers 46 and 49 being resilient, the elements 47 and 50 will yield, as the fingers 46 slide upwardly, and subsequently position themselves in the interlocked relation shown in Fig. 4.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a supporting member; a shaftjournaled for rotation therein; a gripping element upon the shaft; a depressible ejector frame slidable in the supporting member; and interlocking elements upon the shaft and the frame to hold the frame normally in elevated position during the rotation of the shaft, the shaft being movable to break the engagement between the interlocking elements, thereby to permit the shaft to .rotate and the frame to descend, .independently of each other.

2. In a device of' the class described, a supporting member; a shaft journaled therein; a gripping element upon the shaft; a depressible ejector frame slidable in the supporting member; coperating fingers upon the frame and the shaft interlocking to hold the frame normally in elevated position, one of the fingers being resilient to permit the shaft to rotate without breaking the engagement between the fingers; the frame being movable tobreak the engagement between the fingers.

In a device of the class described, a supporting membera shaft journaled therein, a gripping eiement upon the shaft; a depressble ejector frame slidable in the supporting member; resilient means for depressing the frame; and interlocking elements upon the shaft and the frame to hold the frame normally in elevated position, against the action of the resilient means, the frame being movable to break the engagement between the interlocking elements.

4. In a device of the class described, a supporting member; spaced holding means upon the supporting member adapted for engagement with an egg rack; an ejector frame slidable in the supporting member and constituting a means for removing the egg rack from the holding means; a shaft journaled for rotation in the supporting member; egg gripping means upon the shaft; and interlocking elements upon the shaft and the ejector frame to hold the frame normally inoperative to remove the egg rack from the holding means during the rotation of the shaft; the frame being movable to break the engagement between the interlocking elements.

5. In a device of the class described, a supporting member; primary and secondary shafts journaled therein and provided with upstanding arms; rods pivotally connected with each set of arms, the rods and the arms constituting operating means for the shafts; there being levers rigidly connected at their remote ends with the operating means and having their adjacent ends overlapping; a slidably mounted element; links `pivotally connecting said element with the adjacent ends of the levers; and coperating gripping members upon the shafts.

6. In a device of the class described, a supporting member; primary and secondary shafts journaled therein and provided with! bifurcatcd arms of different lengths; rods pivotally mounted in the bifurcations of each set of arms, the rod which is pivoted to the shorter set of arms being slidable between the bifurcations of the longer set of 4, a 'wao/1Q arms; Cooperating gripping elements upon In testimony that I claim the foregoing the shafts; resilient means for sliding the as my own, I have hereto aiXed my signarods in opposite directions to rotate the ture in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

shafts and to move the gripping elements HARRISON R. MORRIS. toward each other; and means for sliding Witnesses: the rods against the action of the resilient MILLICENT K. MORRIS,

means to space the gripping elements apart. JNO. W. LINDSAY` 

